Physically less complicated than its name origin, peridot has had what can only be an extensive interesting history. Many argue the root origin: Is it Arabic as the word "faridat" suggests? Or is French, "peritot"? There are so many theories for a simple beloved gem though only one thing is for certain: its genuine, unfaltering beauty.
Vivid, astonishing, and unparalleled with a captivating green hue, peridot can be found in artifacts dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. First discovered on a volcanic island in the Red Sea, a small deposit was mined and these precious gems were carved in small beads and used to embellish the sarcophagus of those who had moved onto the afterlife.
Its vibrancy and color never wavering, even in artificial light, it’s easy to understand why peridot quickly became a favorite of the Romans, along with gaining the nickname of “evening emerald”. Additionally, peridot made its way into Greek and Roman jewelry as rings, pendants, intaglios and inlays. Since it was believed that the crystals were the symbol of the sun, peridot was worn on the left arm, though some propose right arm, to ward off evil spirits and revered as sign of royal dignity.
Peridot crystals form deep below the Earth’s surface and rise to the top with the help of volcanic activity. They are compounds made primarily of magnesium and iron; found in many regions of the world. The vast majorities of the worlds peridot supply come from Arizona but are often found in Pakistan, Myanmar and China. In Hawaiian culture, they are known as the “tears of Pele”, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Fragments of meteorites have also contained peridot. This is one of the few in the precious gem realm that occur solely in one color. As previously mentioned, the composition including iron, helps dictate the intensity of the greenish presences. The higher the iron content, the more golden-brown hue the stones exude and as such, the lower the iron content the richer the green hue.
Resting on the Mohs scale of 6.5-7, the stones are a bit more difficult to work with and cut than one would like. Because of this, large one off peridots are a rarity, leaving the smaller, purer stones to be of higher monetary value as well.
Due to the versatility held in its beauty, peridot is a fine choice to carry the wearer from daytime into the evening. Able to be set in gold or silver alone or paired with diamonds, topaz, tourmaline or any other gem you see fit, peridot is the perfect gift for any August baby you may know or a couple celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary!
Bellevue Rare Coins specializes in gold buying and dealing in rare coins. We are a locally owned family business with located in Bellevue, Lynnwood and West Seattle. We are also silver, diamond, currency and jewelry buyers. Visit us for a free evaluation.
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